For many years chestnuts were an important food, not only in the United
States but in Japan and Europe.
In the early 1900s chestnut wood was used in many industries in the
United States.
Roger and I both were surprised to learn that telephone poles and fence
posts were made from chestnut trees because they not only resisted rot,
but they also grew tall and straight. Chestnut trees grow from 70 to
100 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet in diameter.
Here in the northeast we had the most chestnut trees, more than
25% of all the trees were chestnuts.
Whoever they is, they don't know for sure it seems, but in about 1904 a
shipment of oriental chestnuts may have contained a blight. It began to
spread until most of the East Coast trees were contaminated. How sad.
The blight spread to Europe and they believe it arrived there aboard a
shipment of mine timbers about the year 1917.
They also discovered it in Italy in the 1930s and by that time a large
portion of the trees everywhere were already infected with this blight.
Since then the Italian and American scientists have been working on
trying to stop the disease.
The largest stand of chestnut trees is now in the state of Michigan
along the shores of Lake Michigan. Scientist and interested citizens
alike are trying to keep it from spreading.
There is another blight far worse. It is the blight of sin which has
really made a mess of God's creation.
In spite of that, we who choose can find much beauty in this world and
we have the blessed hope. If found faithful we will see that promised
new heaven and new earth, perfect as it comes from the hand of the
Creator.
Isaiah 65:17, "For behold, I create new heavens and the new earth"
Revelation 21:1 "I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first
heaven and the first earth were passed away"
Isaiah 66:22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will
make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and
your name remain."
2 Peter 3:13 "Nevertheless, according to His promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."
I'll meet you there!
